CHAPTER 10: Vessel of Hope And Despair

Maika remembered a time when her world was still untouched by sorrow. The golden skies shimmered softly above, and she sat on the crescent-shaped moon that hovered above an endless garden of silver lilies. Her small hands clutched a drawing book, its pages filled with her sketches of worlds beyond her own.

As the gentle breeze stirred her hair, she felt a warm hand caress her head. Looking up, she saw the Divine Oneness standing beside her, eyes closed, yet smiling with infinite tenderness.

“Mother… what do humans in the human world look like?” Maika asked, tilting her head curiously, tapping the pencil on her chin.

The Divine Oneness eyes remained close. Her smile, radiant as dawn, seemed to hold countless stories.

Humans are like flowers blooming in speech—each word delicate, yet powerful enough to touch hearts. Their smiles can illuminate even the darkest paths. Unique and irreplaceable, they are cherished by the Creator, like the spring's transitioning after a long winter.

A faint flutter of wings caught Maika's attention. A small Pleiade spirit—no taller than her forearm—fluttered toward her. Its translucent wings shimmered like crystal dew, and its silken silver hair flowed around its delicate frame. Dressed in a gown woven from stardust, the spirit carried a book with both hands, offering it with a bright smile.

“Master, look! I brought this for you~!”

Maika accepted the book with excitement. Opening it, her eyes widened at the unfamiliar images within. “What’s this…?” she asked, pointing at a round, fluffy creature with tiny wings.

“That’s a baby chicken! A chick! It’s a creature that only exists on Earth,” the spirit explained eagerly, hovering beside her shoulder.

“Earth…” Maika whispered, her gaze drifting toward the distant blue planet that gleamed among the stars. “The beautiful planet…”

Footsteps approached from behind. She turned to see the Divine Oneness approaching with graceful steps, her long silver robe trailing behind her. “You’ve been drawing quite a bit lately, haven’t you?” she asked, her voice soft as a lullaby.

“Ah, Mother! Have you ever seen a baby chicken before?” Maika asked, holding up the book excitedly.

The Divine Oneness chuckled gently, kneeling beside her. “Ah… chicks? Yes, they’re indeed adorable creatures. When you hold one in your palms, its warmth brings a sense of calm and peace.” As she spoke, her hands glowed softly with celestial light. Within moments, a small, golden-yellow chick materialized in her palms, its tiny wings fluttering faintly as it chirped.

“W-woah!” Maika gasped in awe, cupping her hands beneath the Divine Oneness’s to hold the chick. Compared to Maika's small hands, the chick seemed even bigger. “It’s so cuuuute!”

The Pleiade spirit hovered closer, its eyes sparkling with wonder. “Name it, Master! It needs a name~!”

Maika thought for a moment, her gaze falling on the bookmark peeking from the book. “Hmm… Shiori! How about Shiori?”

The Divine Oneness tilted her head slightly, her smile warm with approval. “Shiori, huh? A beautiful name indeed.”

Maika leaned forward, her eyes still gleaming with wonder. “Mother… there are so many things I want to know about Earth!”

“You’ve learned quite a lot already,” the Divine Oneness said, gently brushing a strand of hair from Maika’s face. “The Pleiades spirits also have done well in guiding you.”

The spirit puffed up with pride, placing its hands on its hips. “Hehe~! It’s no problem at all! Master’s a quick learner, after all!”

The Divine Oneness’s gaze softened. “How is your mana energy progressing? Have you been able to concentrate better?”

Maika lowered her gaze slightly, shaking her head. “I’m still learning how to use it properly…”

The spirit sighed wistfully. “If only we could demonstrate better… but our forms make it hard to show you how humans use magic.”

Maika shook her head firmly. “It’s okay! I want to see humans myself… I want to meet them and be their friend!”

The spirit giggled. “Master’s really curious about humans, huh~? It’s so cute that you don’t know much about them yet!”

“Hey! What do you mean I don’t know!?” Maika pouted, puffing her cheeks. “I know lots of things! I’m a human too, right, Mother?”

The Divine Oneness’s smile grew faint as she sat beside her, wrapping a gentle arm around her shoulders. “No, my dear… you’re not a human. You are a vessel—crafted in the image of humanity, yet sanctified and filled with the power of the Sapphire Heart. You were created to connect all worlds as a bridge between them.”

The Pleiade spirit added, “Yup! Vessels like you help Divine Oneness maintain balance and spread hope across universes~!”

Maika listened quietly, absorbing the weight of those words. “…So, I’m not the same as them after all.”

“You possess the emotions and heart of a human,” the Divine Oneness said, placing a hand over Maika’s chest. “But within you lies an extraordinary power beyond mortal reach.” She then produced the small clock, its silver chain glinting faintly in the celestial blue light. “Take this. You will need it on your journey. Its power is sealed in a few years when you set foot in the human world… but in time, you will understand its purpose.”

Maika clutched the clock close to her heart. “I’ve learned that our world stands at the center of all parallel universes… as part of the laws of Divine Oneness, right?”

“Indeed,” the Divine Oneness nodded. “And you… were chosen as a beacon of hope.”

Maika blinked. “You mean… A leader of hope?”

“You are our hope, my dear. That is why I created you.” The Divine Oneness stood gracefully, her long hair swaying with her movements. “The multiverse is fragile. Should despair take root, it will spread like a poison through every world. We cannot allow that to happen.”

The spirits exchanged worried glances as a shadow seemed to pass through the garden.

The Divine Oneness continued, her voice somber. “We have sworn an oath to the Twelve Laws of the Universe—to create a world of true harmony, a Utopia. Yet, humanity often strays from that path. Blinded by desire, they sometimes sacrifice even their loved ones to achieve their ambitions.”

Maika’s expression fell. “That sounds… so sad…”

The spirit added softly, “Humans with strong emotions—especially fear or sorrow—become easy prey.”

“Prey…?” Maika repeated, her voice hesitant.

“In certain universes, resentment and anguish manifest as creatures known as The Greeds,” the Divine Oneness explained. “Born from the darkest depths of the human heart, they seek to corrupt and devour souls, feeding off fear and despair. Their ultimate goal is to drown the world in sorrow until no hope remains.”

The Pleiade spirit clutched the edge of Maika’s dress. “If too many people fall into despair, the Greeds will multiply… and if they grow too strong, they can even possess humans, turning them into more Greeds.”

“But… how do we stop them?” Maika asked, gripping the clock tighter.

“They have a core—an Abysmal Bead embedded within their hearts,” the Divine Oneness replied. “Destroy the core, and the creature will vanish into mist. This is your mission: to cleanse the world of Greeds and restore hope to humanity.”

Maika lowered her gaze, uncertainty clouding her eyes. “…I know I have a purpose, but… I still don’t feel confident that I can do it…”

The Divine Oneness knelt beside her, cupping her face with both hands. Her eyes remained closed, though Maika could feel her unwavering faith. “I believe in you, Ai. Among all the vessels I have created, you are the first to inherit so many abilities. You are more capable than you realize.”

The Pleiade spirit flew up, twirling in the air with excitement. “Yeah! Master’s super pretty, super strong, and super awesome! No one can beat you!”

Another spirit joined in, clapping its tiny hands. “We all love you, Master! You’ll definitely succeed!”

Blushing at the sudden flood of praise, Maika waved her hands awkwardly. “O-okay, okay! T-that’s enough compliments…!”

“So cute~!” the spirits chimed in unison.

The Divine Oneness stood, she looked distant yet resolute. “When the time comes, we will send you to Earth. Your hair, the source of your inherent power, will be cut as a symbol of your departure.” She looked back with a gentle smile. “Until then… continue to grow stronger, my dear.”

Maika began to draw out her staff with renewed determination. “Thank you, Mother… Thank you, Pleiades! I won’t let you down! Starting today, I’ll train until I can protect everyone!”

“Wait, Master! Not here—!”

“Y-yeah! You’ll ruin the garden again!”

The Divine Oneness chuckled softly as she watched Maika rush toward the training grounds, her spirits chasing after her with frantic flaps of their wings. Turning her gaze toward the distant stars, she whispered to herself:

“Soon… I shall create a world where you may rest without fear. Until that day, my beloved child… bring hope to the worlds that await you.”

Maika awoke in the chamber, suspended against the stone wall by dark chains that pierced her hands like spears, crossing behind her back. Her blood dripped steadily down her arms, pooling beneath her feet. Her eyes darkened and filled with hopelessness as her skin had grown pale from blood loss, her breath shallow and weak. No matter how much she must use the energy, the chains held her firm.

How much longer am I going to endure this alive?

Footsteps echoed against the cold stone walls. The Warden approached, his expression as unreadable as ever. His eyes, sharp and devoid of empathy, studied her with an unsettling curiosity. Maika’s gaze shifted past him, searching for the others. Her heart plummeted when she realized the grim truth—they were all gone.

"You're heartless... You've got no heart..!" Maika glared, fury burning in her eyes. But he didn’t flinch—didn’t even seem to care.

The Warden raised her clock, hovering it near her face by his dark spear. The clock glowed faintly, as though reacting to her presence. “Fascinating. I cannot touch this… yet you can see it, can’t you?”

Maika’s eyes widened. Through the glass of the clock, she saw something impossible—the days were extending instead of counting down.

How could this be happening..? It used to show 'One more day.' The power of Divine Oneness should have come to her aid by now, but it hadn’t.

Now, it showed '1000 days left.'

Why had it forsaken her..?

The Warden observed her reaction with detached interest. “Shiba informed me of your… unique perception. If only I could harness this power myself. Perhaps it holds the secret to immortality..” His gaze darkened with obsession as he leaned closer. “Which land are you? Tell me… and this pain will end.”

Maika clenched her jaw and turned her head away. "Please give me.. water.."

The Warden’s lips barely shifted as he exhaled through his nose—a subtle sigh of disappointment. “Very well. Let’s see how long you can endure this place.” He turned and exited the chamber, leaving her suspended in silence.

The dark chain released as she fell onto the platform—crafted from sapphire stone—emitted a faint pulse of energy that kept her bound.

The guards soon returned, carrying buckets of ice-cold water. Without hesitation, they hurled the freezing liquid onto her body. The shock sent tremors through her limbs as her breath hitched painfully. Each splash drenched her dress that felt like shards of glass against her skin.

Curiosity sparked in his eyes as he watched through the display.

"The freezing liquid is at 20 degrees Celsius under a spell—magnificent. Her body is immune to it. What if we push further... to 10 degrees Celsius?" he mused, glancing at the researcher beside him. "How much more can an immortal endure?"

The researcher nodded, though his gaze reflected concern at the Warden's interest. "We could try different temperatures... Let's see.. if she's weak to heat."

This continued for hours. Whenever her body adjusted to the cold, they escalated the torment—switching to searing hot water that scalded her skin, or plunging her into freezing iron restraints until her limbs turned numb. Each burst of temperature was designed to force a reaction, one to another, a surge of electricity through the spear held by the guard struck her, delivering a powerful shock that electrocuted her intensely.

Maika gritted her teeth, enduring the agony without uttering a word. Yet, her body betrayed her, trembling despite her resistance.

"S-stop.." She raised her hand, shaking as she tried to move away weakly. Tears streamed down her face as she gasped for breath,

"What? Can't hear you. How would you like this!" the guard snarled, driving the spear into her eye with ruthless intent.

Maika screamed echoing through the air. With trembling hands pressing her face, her body curling inward from the searing pain. Crying holding into it.

"It's hurt...It's hurt...!"

The guards scoffed and jeered at her. "You need to learn more lessons..! Its funny, huh? Making us falling asleep? mocking our event?!" one of them snarled before driving the spear through her hand, pinning it to the ground and preventing her from reaching her face.

Maika gasped in fear, her breath hitching as pain coursed through her body. Pressing against the rough stone, she pushed herself up slowly, each movement weighted with agony.

"I..I'm sorry.." She pressed her forehead against the rough stone beneath her, ignoring the pain and the trembles on her body. The jagged surface scraped her skin, but she clung to it, desperate to steady her shaking body against the waves of pain crashing through her hand.

"Funny," one of the guards sneered. "Thinkin' we'd forgive you just like that."

Their laughter erupted around her—insulting her again and again.

From afar, Shiba watched the scene unfold, her heart tightening. It was cruel—too cruel. Without thinking, she took a step away, but the Warden's voice cut through the air, freezing her in place.

"Feeling a sense of regret now, are we?"

Shiba's breath caught in her throat as she glanced toward him. His gaze was like ice—cold, calculating, and devoid of humanity. A chill slithered down her spine. This man... The thought clawed through her mind. He's a true monster. His presence had always been unsettling, but at that moment, it felt suffocating.

"Sometimes.." he muttered, his voice low with disdain. "Women are all easy to be fooled. All the same. Too dumb to see through deceit."

His mockery struck her whole existence, trying to question her abandonment to her own kind, only to serve him.

Days passed without food or water. Yet, her body slowly regenerated, as if their violence had only scarred her for a single day. The hunger gnawed at her stomach until it became a dull ache, and her lips cracked from dehydration. Her body trembled from exhaustion, yet she refused to yield. As she lay on the cold stone floor, her thoughts drifted to happier moments—laughing with the other girls, sharing stories beneath the moonlight. But those memories felt like distant dreams now.

The sound of boots drew her from her thoughts. The Warden stood above her once more, his presence casting a long shadow across her frail form. Kneeling beside her, he tilted her chin upward with a gloved hand, forcing her to meet his eyes. “Just tell me where you’re from… and I will ease your suffering.”

Maika's gaze was distant and hollow, devoid of life. She didn't utter a word. With a growl of frustration, he shoved her head to the ground.

His eyes hardened. "...You're such a headache."

At his command, the guards returned with iron rods heated until they glowed red. They pressed the scorching metal against her arms and shoulders, leaving searing marks that burned through her clothes and into her flesh. Maika cried so hard she thought they might shatter, "Stop..! Stop!!" Her breath came in ragged gasps as sweat mixed with blood, soaking her torn garments.

"Then tell me, who are you!?" the Warden barked, his patience snapping as his obsession with power began to consume him.

When that still yielded no results, they bound her wrists and suspended her by her arms until her shoulders ached as if they would tear from their sockets. Electrical currents surged through the chains, shocking her body at irregular intervals. The agony was relentless—never enough to kill her, but enough to strip away any sense of time or hope.

Eventually, the Warden stepped back. “You're unbelievable..” His eyes widened as his breath ragged. He turned on his heel and departed furiously, leaving the guards to continue the punishment.

Maika tried to summon her Elyssian power, but the collar around her neck flicked violently, draining her strength and rendering her powerless. Her knees buckled beneath her as she collapsed onto the sapphire platform, gasping for air.

A faint sound of footsteps echoed in the corridor. Through the haze of pain, Maika lifted her gaze and saw Shiba standing just beyond the threshold of the chamber.

Shiba’s expression was unreadable, though a glimmer of curiosity shone in her eyes. She stepped forward, her voice calm but cold. “You could end this, you know. Just tell them what they want to hear.”

Maika’s breath hitched as she stared at the girl she once trusted. “Why… Why would you side with them...?” She whispered.

Shiba’s lips curled into a faint, bitter smile. “I had nowhere else to go. Here, at least I have power. Freedom. No one looks down on me anymore… and I get what I want.” Her gaze flicked to Maika’s collar, eyes gleaming with intrigue. “And you… you’re something special. The Warden might want your secret, but I wonder.. what would happen if I had it instead.”

Maika managed a faint, shaky laugh despite the pain. “You traded your soul… for scraps of power. I pity you, Shiba... More than anyone else in this place.”

The faint smirk vanished from Shiba’s face, replaced by a cold, hardened stare. She turned sharply and called to the guards outside. “She still refuses to talk. Make her regret it.”

As Shiba disappeared down the corridor, the guards stepped forward once more, their shadows falling over Maika as she braced herself for the next wave of agony—knowing that no matter how much they hurt her, she would not break.